LOS ANGELES — Today, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez was joined by a coalition of community members and environmental justice advocates, including Dr. Rocio Rivas, STAND-LA, Vista Hermosa Community Group, Esperanza Community Housing, and the Lincoln Heights Coalition, to announce that a proposed trucking depot development in Lincoln Heights would be subject to updated zoning regulations that aim to protect communities from harmful and environmentally hazardous developments.
Councilmember Hernandez followed the announcement by introducing a package of legislation to close policy gaps and address longstanding environmental harms, including the proliferation of orphan oil wells and unregulated development on brownfield sites.
“For too long, our communities have been treated as afterthoughts in the face of unchecked pollution and hazardous development,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “Our Interim Control Ordinance, along with this package of legislation, sends a clear message: our neighborhoods are off limits for harmful, destructive projects that prioritize profit over people. I am grateful to our coalition of community advocates who worked hand in hand with us to shape these motions. This is a victory for environmental justice in District 1, and it’s only the beginning.
Proposed Lincoln Heights Trucking Depot Subject to Updated Zoning Guidelines
In 2022, a commercial real estate investment company announced their intention to develop a massive warehouse on a 2.6 acre parcel in Lincoln Heights that was formerly home to Welch’s Uniform and Laundry, an industrial dry cleaner. The site, which is located next to an elementary school and in the middle of a highly residential neighborhood, was proposed to house a 60,000 square foot distribution center, and would bring a stream of trucks through the neighborhood everyday, exposing residents to increased rates of diesel emissions and pollution.
The proposal was initially granted permits through a by-right process that was governed by the outdated Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan (CASP) and did not require community input or independent environmental review. Since taking office, Councilmember Hernandez has worked to pass an updated series of guidelines that close critical gaps that had left communities vulnerable to harmful developments. However, the proposal still had vesting rights under the previous zoning code.
Today, Councilmember Hernandez announced that the proposal’s application deadline had passed on Monday, December 2nd, without the applicant gathering the necessary clearances to move forward. Effective immediately, in order to reapply or request an extension, the project will now be subject to her Interim Control Ordinance, which prohibits the issuance of permits for warehousing, distribution, and storage developments larger than 15,000 square feet in the CASP area.
“Residents shouldn’t have to play detective to uncover these dangers,” said Michael Henry Hayden, Lincoln Heights Coalition. The City must take responsibility by ensuring contamination records are shared across all City departments, and that toxic sites are remediated before becoming homes.”
Regulating Development on Brownfields
Los Angeles is home to numerous brownfield sites—properties that are contaminated by hazardous substances and pollutants. The sites are often abandoned properties that were previously used by commercial or industrial entities, and pose ongoing health risks for nearby residents. Despite these risks, the city’s current permitting processes lack a formal system for coordinating with state and federal agencies responsible for contaminated site oversight.
Hernandez’s motions direct departments to develop plans that will:
Require coordination with any county, state, and federal agencies, such as the Department of Toxic Substances Control and the California Air Resources Board, to ensure thorough environmental reviews and remediation have occurred before issuing permits for development on brownfield sites.
Update City databases, such as ZIMAS, to clearly identify brownfield sites, and incorporate environmental data to flag contaminated properties during the permitting process.
Update Department of Building and Safety guidelines for addressing hazardous materials identified during the construction process.
“The presence of such environmental hazards near schools jeopardizes our children’s safety and their ability to learn in a healthy environment,” said Dr. Rocio Rivas, LAUSD School Board Member, District 2. “Addressing these threats is crucial for safeguarding the well-being of our students and their futures.”
Addressing the Legacy of Oil Wells in Los Angeles
There are over 5,000 active, inactive, or abandoned oil wells in Los Angeles, many located near homes, schools, and parks, exposing more than 3.8 million residents to toxic chemicals and safety hazards. These wells release hazardous chemicals, such as methane and benzene, into the air, which can pose both immediate and long-term health risks. Councilmember Hernandez today introduced a motion that takes direct aim at this longstanding issue through a series of reforms designed to protect public health and ensure proper oversight.
“Communities like mine are being poisoned every day,” said Rosalinda Morales, Co-Leader and co-founder of the Vista Hermosa Heights Community Group. “To live on an uncapped oil field is to be exposed constantly to toxic gases like methane and hydrogen sulfide. Vista Hermosa won’t be a sacrifice zone anymore, it’s time for city action to protect our health and safety.”
Hernandez’s motion calls on the Board of Public Works’ Office of Petroleum and Natural Gas Administration and Safety to provide recommendations to improve the City’s regulation of oil well redevelopment and ensure stronger protections for residents. Key provisions include:
Strengthening enforcement of oil and gas regulations and improving land-use requirements for properties near oil wells.
Enhancing environmental review standards for developments near active or abandoned wells.
Developing methane mitigation protocols and ongoing monitoring for new residential developments on oil well sites.
Creating accountability measures for developers to protect public health and safety.
Instituting citywide notices in zoning systems to inform residents and developers of risks near oil wells.
The legislation also calls for City departments to integrate community input into redevelopment processes, improve public communication about local oil spills, and update City procedures for identifying and managing historic wells.
"For far too long, the oil industry in Los Angeles has been allowed to pollute the air we breathe with impunity," said Wendy Miranda, Policy Associate at Esperanza Community Housing. "Communities have lived with the consequences --- breathing in toxic chemicals from oil sites that have caused allergies, asthma, nosebleeds, and different types of cancer. We are glad to support a motion that will address these gaps and finally hold the industry responsible for the harms they have caused."
“For too long, uncapped oil wells have poisoned the health of the communities across LA,” said Nicolas Gardner Serna, Chapter Coordinator, Sunrise Movement LA. “Urgent action is needed to protect the thousands of families who live near an oil field. We all have the right to live in safe and healthy communities.”
Read Councilmember Hernandez’s full package of legislation by clicking the links below:
CLICK HERE for photos event photos.